Did You Know...

... that Thomas Hughes and Thiago Gomes connected seriously in 2008?

New starting point for same NMP-PCH Hayabusa lineup: Mondial 2012

posted Jan 19th, 2014 -
The new Arizona Airspeed lineup had a very challenging task ahead when training began for the 2013 season. NMP-PCH Hayabusa was far ahead when the Belgian team came back with the same lineup. Hayabusa was literally on the same scoring and performance level at the Mondial Dubai 2012.

Thomas Hughes and Mark Kirkby had invited Thiago Gomes and Chris Farina to fill the two open slots and then had to bring the new lineup back to the gold medal level of December 2012 for the starting point. It was the same starting point where Hayabusa took off from at the beginning of the 2013 season.

The new Airspeed lineup used the 2013 season and the remainder of the year successfully, as the reigning world champions have caught up with Hayabusa, at least at indoor competition and before penalties. Hayabusa won the Wind Games 2014 with a total of 318 completed formations withing working time, and Airspeed was only one single point behind before penalties.

Thomas Hughes and Mark Kirkby made obviously good choices when they invited their new members. They had good previous experiences with Perris Fury members after Josh Hall became a member of the Airspeed gold medal lineup at the Mondial 2012. Chris Farina was a well trained top competitor before he joined SDC Rhythm XP and then Arizona Airspeed.

Thiago Gomes was in the point slot for Sebastian Tempest before he joined SDC Rhythm XP in 2010. Then he became the tail for SDC Rhythm XP and moved up, together with Chris Farina, to the 2nd place at the USPA Nationals 2012. They were rear piece partners for SDC Rhythm XP.

Reigning Airspeed world champion Thomas Hughes knew Thiago Gomes not only from competing at several meets against SDC Rhythm XP, who have been and are working on catching up with the US top team from Arizona. Thomas Hughes and Thiago Gomes had connected earlier.

Sebastian Tempest lineup of 2009 at work with coach Thomas Hughes

Thiago Gomes made his first competition jumps after moving to the United States by filling slots for Optic Nerve and Last Second at the Shamrock Showdown 2006 and then with the unlimited Teiwaz lineup and other Florida teams in 2006 and 2007.

The first serious commitment in Florida came in 2008 and for Sebastian Tempest. Kris Peterson, Ari Perelman and Chris Ash completed the lineup. Pat Walker was filming the team, and Thomas Hughes was the coach. That's when Thiago Gomes and Thomas Hughes connected for the first time seriously before they eventually became team mates and piece partners for Arizona Airspeed's current lineup.

Ari Perelman left Tempest in 2009, and Gilles Dutrisac became Thiago Gomes' new front piece partner for a year. Thomas Hughes was still coaching the team. Then it was time for Thiago Gomes to move on, and he joined SDC Rhythm XP and the pursuit of Arizona Airspeed's top position in the USA and in the world. The rest is recent 4way history. Thomas Hughes and Thiago Gomes are now Arizona Airspeed's front piece partners.